Class 3A Parkview Baptist, arguably the area's most likely title contender, flexed its muscles Thursday night by a come-from-behind, last-drive victory against a 5A Catholic group off to a solid start against a tough, tough schedule.

Then Dutchtown rebounded Friday from last week's loss to Zachary and doubled Destrehan, 42-21, in a matchup teeming with SEC recruits.

For what more can a young preps reporter ask in his first days in a "new" town?

And those were just the games I had my eyes or ears on to one extent or another.

Area teams are apparently being more forgiving of my tardiness than most of the schools would be to that of their players.

Speaking of which, University got off to a bit of a late start in its own right this week.

But the Cubs and running back Nick Brossette put on a fourth-quarter show to upend Live Oak and provide an obvious contender in my first Baton Rouge Athletes of the Week selection process.

The sophomore's 158-yard, three-touchdown effort was among the best around, particularly considering the bulk of it came backed against a wall.Boston Scott compiled 131 yards and four scores rushing to help lead Zachary past West Feliciana — and has a cool name — and standouts from those aforementioned games certainly deserve consideration.

I know I'm only hitting a few bullet points on a lost list of highlights.

I promise to catch many more in the coming weeks.

I may be late to the party, but football season's a long one.

And man, what a "start" — kind of.

Week 5 provided plenty about which to be excited.

Particularly in St. Amant, where the Gators handed a rolling Central squad its first loss.

Looks like I may be heading quickly back to Dutchtown.

That 10-mile stretch around Gonzales should be rocking again Friday as the Griffins host the Gators in a matchup of arguably the Baton Rouge area's top 5A teams this season.

I may not have arrived until Week 5, but the way things are shaping up, I feel like I returned back south just in time.